Context
Space is an increasingly pressing problem as the College develops and grows. The South Kensington Campus has become congested and opportunities for expansion are limited. Currently 37 per cent of the existing space on campus is not useable, with development complicated by some buildings being listed and leasehold restrictions on the College estate.
Chief Operations Officer Simon Harding-Roots said a new masterplan would be developed this year, to shape Imperial’s campuses for future generations, ensuring they have the flexibility and facilities to meet the community’s needs. Over the next six months an audit will be carried out to determine departments’ requirements which will inform the masterplan proposal. The masterplan framework will be considered by Management Board in summer 2013.
Simon presented examples of innovative uses of space at universities in the United States:
- At Georgia Tech lecture theatres have been designed with seats that swivel, facilitating group discussions.
- At Harvard a room for functions or group work has been built underneath a lawn, which continues to be used by students as outdoor campus space.
He noted that on the South Kensington Campus the walkway and the data centre in the Mechanical Engineering Building are spaces that could be redeveloped or repurposed to bring benefits to the College community. He asked Away Day delegates to identify other such opportunities and to consider what they require of campus spaces to deliver the College’s core activities.
Key discussion points:
- Research staff and students need to be located close to the equipment they require – laboratories with write-up areas alongside could offer an effective solution.
- While new technologies are bringing innovations to teaching, the university of the future will still require space for students to have face-to-face contact with academic staff, in the form of lecture theatres and seminar rooms. Opportunities for using these spaces more flexibly, following the example at Georgia Tech, should be considered.
- Open and flexible areas for group working and discussion are required to foster collaboration.
- If the provision of cellular offices is reduced to make more efficient use of space, there needs to be a sufficient number of meeting rooms of varied sizes alongside open plan offices.
- There should be a focus on improving links between the College’s campuses, for example by providing a shuttle bus service or working with local authorities to develop transport infrastructure such as cycle lanes that would make it easier for staff and students to move between Imperial locations.
View the presentation given by Chief Operations Officer Simon Harding-Roots